Tradition, Tradition!

Religion was very much in the background when I was growing up in the former Soviet Union. However, tradition was always at the forefront. I have great memories of delicious foods in the early Spring (which I now realize was for Passover) and getting money in the early Winter (which was for Hannukah). My parents and grandparents did not really elaborate on why we have certain traditions, but that we just do. So getting back to the food… my early Spring memories always center around chicken soup with matzo balls and gefilte fish. There were of course many other delicious dishes, but to me, Passover is not celebrated unless we feast on gefilte fish and chicken soup with matzo balls.

Traditions must be kept and passed on and this year we were treated to an amazing meal in lovely settings. My sister hosted our Seder dinner and cooked many delicious dishes including the mandatory chicken soup with picture perfect matzo balls.

Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls

My mom made her famous gefilte fish which by the way, is not bland, run of the mill, supermarket purchased, pale and unattractive.

Gefilte Fish

It is flavorful, handmade, and very, very, very delicious. Now that I sit back, read over the beginning of this post and reminisce about all the delicious foods we had on Friday, I only hope that I can too one day have enough courage to host such a beautiful Seder.

Finally, a big shout-out to my sister who is an amazing chef thanks to or perhaps despite being a working mom of a rambunctious eight year old. Ingredients turn into gold in her hands and she manages to host so effortlessly.

5 Comments

  1. Channah said:

    Thank you, Nadya! My family is my inspiration.

    April 10, 2012
    Reply
  2. Dana said:

    Ah, how I love soup with matzo balls!!!!!!!!!!! We made it too! {whispering} but we did buy gefilte fish, no time for that one, maybe when we retire 🙂

    April 10, 2012
    Reply
  3. Nadya said:

    I can’t blame you… I am not sure when I will find the courage to tackle gefilting a fish. The weather is finally turning so I am hoping to spend more time outdoors than indoors and hopefully our cooking methods will follow (grill vs. stove).

    April 10, 2012
    Reply
  4. […] had to augment my celebration plan. Since we were also planning to visit our family for the holiday, we decided to leverage our little bundle of joy to get some free time to ourselves while the […]

    April 11, 2012
    Reply
  5. Straight to the point and well written! Why can’t everyone else be like this?

    April 15, 2012
    Reply

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